National or private airlines, with fixed flight schedules and frequencies, programmed in advance and readily available.

They cover a wide range of destinations.

These are major carriers, such as Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, …

They offer great flexibility in use and organization (validity, modifications, etc.) for full-fare tickets (generally very expensive).

It is even possible to replace standard meals with kosher, vegetarian, or diabetic menus… at no extra charge. Simply notify the airline at the time of booking, or at least 48 hours before departure.

However, when departing from regional airports on scheduled flights, there will always be a stopover (with or without a change of aircraft) via the capital city of the country of the booked airline.

A charter is an aircraft chartered for a specific flight, on a given date, by an organization.

This can be either a chartered aircraft or just a few seats purchased from an airline by a travel agency known as a tour operator.

A charter flight is not scheduled in advance, leading to sometimes atypical departure times (late or early). Flight characteristics are only known at the last minute.

If the first night and/or last day is shortened due to schedules imposed by the airline, no refund or compensation will be provided.

Charter flights are generally purchased by travel agencies who market them with other services, as part of a package (accommodation, tour, etc.).

Note: Charter flights offer the advantage of low cost, and to offset transportation expenses, it is essential for charter airlines to fill their flights. To achieve this, several last-minute stops may be made in different cities to board as many passengers as possible.

Low-cost flights (budget flights) account for one-third of air traffic in Europe.

The main airlines in Europe are: Ryanair, EasyJet, and Vueling.

These airlines offer attractive introductory prices and very low basic fares, by applying two rules:

• They minimize operating costs: salary moderation, online-only sales, use of secondary (cheaper) airports, reduced ground time…
• They generate additional revenue by charging for all services (baggage check-in, paid food and beverages, credit card fees, non-changeable tickets…)

Regulations concerning crews and equipment are the same for all airlines. Low-cost carriers do not cut corners on maintenance. They are safe airlines, subject to European civil aviation regulations.

Low-cost flights are often inexpensive and have the advantage of selling one-way tickets, unlike scheduled airlines which primarily sell round-trip tickets (as one-way tickets are generally very expensive).

Direct flights represent only a small portion of air services.

To gather a maximum number of passengers, airlines arrange feeder flights to their respective hubs, located in their country of origin.

They consolidate passengers from various cities or neighboring countries before transporting them together to their final destination. This is why travelers are very often required to change aircraft en route.

To avoid this inconvenience, direct flights should be prioritized (when available).

Generally, the earlier one books, the less expensive the ticket price.

However, since low-cost tickets are not flexible (neither modifiable nor refundable), it is advisable to be certain of one’s plans.

Supply and demand dictate pricing.

The higher the demand for a flight, the faster prices will increase.

Fares are indexed to demand, whether in anticipation (certain dates – weekends, public holidays that will inevitably be in high demand) or based on the real-time evolution of aircraft occupancy rates: This is known as “yield management”, a complex statistical method aimed at maximizing profits based on demand variations.

It is important to note that in air travel, a difference of just a few days can lead to significant savings or, conversely, considerable expense.